Just for fun: What's your favorite kind of ballroom/latin costume? Why?

One of my favorite outfits was a deep red 50's-early 60's-style bowling shirt (with a Route 66 sign on the back)--for East Coast Swing.

And my partner had a poodle skirt, bobby sox, and so forth. Great fun!


I've also done a retro Mambo a few times, 50's style--wearing black horned rimmed glasses and a Perry Como sweater...
 
For latin I really like full skirts that fly around when the girl spins, as well as those asymmetrical slinky ones that are cut really high on one side. Also fringe that's not too long and doesn't hide the body shape. Long sleeves can also look really nice, though I get too hot to wear them myself.

For standard, generally anything with a simple elegant cut (not many ruffles) and an interesting stoning design. Lots of volume in the skirt is nice.
 
For Smooth, I've rarely worn a coat. I just like to wear one of several favorite Chrisanne shirts, a collar with collar studs, braces, cufflinks, bowtie, cummerbund, black pants, and patent leather shoes

In one comp I wore a black vest designed for when you are holding a frame.
 
For competitions and showcases, I often like to wear a beautiful handmade white Latin shirt that I have, because so many of the male dancers go all black. Sometimes I wear latin heel shoes, too. But lately not that often...

But going back to that bowling shirt that I previously described: I nearly forgot how much I love it! :car:
 
Ray Sison said:
One of my favorite outfits was a deep red 50's-early 60's-style bowling shirt (with a Route 66 sign on the back)--for East Coast Swing.

And my partner had a poodle skirt, bobby sox, and so forth. Great fun!


I've also done a retro Mambo a few times, 50's style--wearing black horned rimmed glasses and a Perry Como sweater...
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Speaking of this, I've found some cool stuff (like retro bowling shirts) at www dot bowlingshirt dot com...
 
I like costumes that have a flare skirt and has lots of stones, as opposed to having sequins/feathers etc. I also like it when is bares the back and is in a really sharp colour like canary yellow/neon orange etc.
 
I like fringe or anything that has movement when I dance, I don't like any skirt that "flies up" when I turn as I feel selfconscious. Showing arms and backs are fine with me. The main thing for me is alot of color. For latin I've been wearing a longer style dress that looks great for some of the dances but can get in the way during jive. For me, in ladies B/ C, I want to look classy and elegant, but not too much skin showing.
 
I like simple, classy, elegant and tend to not like the sluttier type dresses. Even if she looks amazingly sexy in a dress, if I'm looking away cuz I know it's just a matter of time before the wardrobe malfunction occurs, I think it is too skimpy. This is especially true when the dancing doesn't match the skimpy look of the dress. I LOVE open backs, the lower the better. Bright colors are gorgeous too.

Question: I'm a big girl with a thick midsection, but young (meaning shapely legs and tanned firm skin). I have a dress in mind for a comp and it is royal blue with longish fringe for the skirt which continues up one side over the right breast. I think it looks pretty flattering on me as the fringe is GREAT for hiding my Krispy Kreme addiction (I know, I'm working on it). The fact that it does kind of hide the body shape is actually a fabulous feature on me. But after reading that it could make me look even bigger, I'm rethinking it. Thoughts? I'd appreciate it....
 
Wannabee said:
Question: I'm a big girl with a thick midsection, but young (meaning shapely legs and tanned firm skin). I have a dress in mind for a comp and it is royal blue with longish fringe for the skirt which continues up one side over the right breast. I think it looks pretty flattering on me as the fringe is GREAT for hiding my Krispy Kreme addiction (I know, I'm working on it). The fact that it does kind of hide the body shape is actually a fabulous feature on me. But after reading that it could make me look even bigger, I'm rethinking it. Thoughts? I'd appreciate it....
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well, my previously stated dis-like of fringe was for all-over, very long fringe covering everything. Without seeing you it is hard to say, but it sounds like this dress might be ok because of the overall design. Ask your pro what he thinks. If the dress gives you confidence, that could help you dance better and the fringe won't be an issue.
 
i also dislike very long fringe... i feel like it makes even the skinniest girls look like mr. snuffelufugus or a woolly mammoth. i especially dislike that it makes body movement difficult to see. i recall margaret burns (judge) once saying the same thing regarding body movement and that she cant judge if she cant see your body... toward the end of her interview here (which is a really helpful interview IMO)...
http://www.dvgrafix.com/flash02/EB2010_vid/EB_interviews2010.html

but i cant speak to your dress in particular since i have not seen it (or the fringe length), wannabee.
 
I find long fringes to be prettier than their shorter counterparts. Like the one black dress that Carmen Vincelj used to wear, I think that looks pretty good. I've seen some other dancers with long fringes too and I think that they look good, except I can't remember their names now.
 
Gonna revive this for a second.

Coach mentioned this week that a latin dress doesn't necessarily need stones if it's a nice cut. I 100% agree...I've seen some latin dresses that were still really striking and eye-catching without stones.

Does anyone have some pictures or examples of just really nice, simple designs?
 
Hmmm. I am always partial to the black velvet/black mesh combo, can't find a good example right now. But i always thought that you better make sure to BRING IT on the floor. Kinda like wearing red and white spectator swing dance shoes - it's an indicator (to me, at least) that you be fierce and bloody talented.
 
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